Oscillating code transmitter



Nov. 6, 1945. R w H WE 2,388,484

OSC ILLATING -CO DE TRANSMITTER Filed Jan. 21, 1943 7621/. Maw,

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 6, 1945 OSCILLAT ING. CODE TRANSMITTER.

Ralph- W. Hewes, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to General Railway SignalCompany, Rochester,

Applicati'onlanuary 21, 1943,, SerialNo. 473,100

Claims.

This invention relates, ge eral. to. coders f the oscillating type whichareparticularly adapts ed, for use, in railway control systems, and hasmore particular reference to animproved lubria i n syst m for su h codeIn coders, oi thetype te which. this, invention tes. f r e amp e, disclon e F e d Patent No. 2,351,588, dated June 20, 1944, the various. movingparts are, not readily accessibleh ut s e d ger f, di tu ng e a just,ment of the device. A1 so, i n th interest oi econ omy, such devices arenot, highly powered, and hencecannot, tolerate excessive friction;v andwear such as might res lt-from a .fai ure topro e ly lubricated. 1 9

A s it e nec ssary to ga n: cc ss to the inner parts of thedevice c1 1frequent oiling, there would be dan er 0t distur ing t e djust entswhich determine. the periodicity of the oscillar Which diu tmentsm t berela ively c ose so as to, ma ntain th v ou codes, sufficient ydistinctive each from the-other.

n ers or. t s ty e. var us c nt cts are oper d y means oi oemsmo ntedonnoscillatin h f whioh o m u ao sspushers connected to the ntac s. Thesurfaces o the. cams.- which rub a s h pu he sare thussubie ed to-c ni eb W 3 and this; the case even more so, n e the mo i n is o cil at r a ditingui he from con nuous. is; the case with a rotatin s a Ac rd ngly. ioil be applied to the con tacting c sur aoestthereis a pronou cedtendency to rub this oil. oiT: and so, should be frequently renewed. h V

In view of the above itis pro osed; inac d e h-t is nvent m nt DIQ QQ'tQ oilin eyem, hi Will de hetelulu icate the contact.- ns. Parts d i hut produoin ranr ex ss: of. oil which might d tothi h n endso interferewith the proper operationot. the. coder.

It is f rm re pro sed to: provide m ans r aw off any slight exce s o-oil wh ch. might be s pp ed, and-utiliz ng this excess: oil ior l nsv abea ing; o the oscillating: shaft,

It s f rthe more p oposed t provide an, oi P- h s eadily a cessibleirom' the out e of t e asi gof theeocler; and which will hold asuflicient suppl of. oil to. Sumac. for. a rela-- v y lon PQ x i. me:as. f r examp e; p p oxima ely oneyear. I

urther obje ts, p n posesfl and. characteristic features of the-presentinvention will appear as the descriptioniprogresses; reference being;made to the acc mpanying; drawin showing in awholllyediagrammaticmanner; and; solely bywayor.

example, one form which the invention can assume. In th drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of a deviceconstructed in accordance with this invention Fig. 2is asectionalview online 2-.-2 of Fig. 1, and viewedin the direction Qfthe arrows.

,Fig. 3 e asectional view on line 33 of'Fig. 1, and viewed in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, exploded view to an enlarged scale ofconnecting. means as employed in this invention.

Fig. '5 is. a sectiQnal view, to an enlarged scale, of partsconstituting a portion, of this invention.

Referringto the drawing, and first to Fig. 1, there, is here shown anembodiment of the invention with only those parts illustrated as appearsnecessary for an understanding of the present invention. The oscillatingcoder includes a top plate 'I-Pof suitable insulating material carryingterminal posts, as 2,. to iorm a cover for a casing 0 made of suitabletransparent material, as glass.

Projecting. downwardlywithin the casing is a; pair of paced p le. p ees. o y ne of which, 3, i shown, and constituting the electro-magneticmeans for producing theoscillation of an armature 4 mounted; on avertical shaft 5, and operating as set forth in the above referred toField application. Below the armature 4 is a biasing spring 6, arrangedtov be adjustable in it tension so as to vary the periodicity of theosqillations in the same manner a disclosed in the above ref erred toapplication. 7 I

Shaft 5 is mounted in suitable step bearings,

one, of which is. in the top plate and the other of which is carried bya supporting strap 1. These bearings, as, for example, the upperbearing, includes a sleeve 9: inserted in a carry member l0,

carried in top plate T1? with the sleeve backed up by a ball member H.Th reduced end 12 of the shaft isreceived in. the sleeve and can bear aai st t bal member H. T e l we b a n is simila ns r cti n ot e up r ne,hava s ee I4 nd a l m m er I5 fo iormin he lower th us or st p ea nSuitab y o n d-on sha 5 a e-o ratin cams constituted by an upper cam i6,and ailower cam I1 positioned'to prol er-ly. cooperate, respectively,with a pusher Iii-and a pair of: pushers, f9 and 20, respectively. Cam{:6 and its associated pusher l3 isshown in detail. inLFig; 2; while caml1 and itsassociated pair of pushers I 9: and 20' areshown tacts 23 and24open. On the other hand, when cam l6 swings in a clockwise directionto bring the pusher onto the high part of the cam, the contacts areclosed. These contacts are included in the energizing circuit for theelectro-magnet in the same manner as fully disclosed in the pat entabove referred to. I 1 l The lower cam H, as can best be seen in Fig. 3,is positioned between the two pushers l9 and 20. These pushers areconnected to theircontact fingers 29 and 30 in the same manner asdescribed just above, that is, respectively, by brackets 3|, 32 and 33,and brackets 34, 35and 36. I I

Contact fingers 29 and 30 'carryfrt'mt contacts and 40, respectively;-

These contacts 31, 39 and 38, 40, are shown in the normalopenpositionsandare employed for coding currentand placingit'in a tracksection. Upon cam l'l'turningin' a counter-clockwise di- 31 and 38 whichcooperatebackcontacts 39 rection, pusher l9 rides upon'the high portionI1 of the cam and contact31 closes on' contact 39; Upon the cam rotatingback again to its shown position and then continuing in a clockwisedirection, pusher 20 rides up on the high portion I1 of cam H to effectthe closing of contact 38on its associated contact 40. I

As described in detail in the above referred to application, shaft iscaused to oscillate by the spring and the electro-magnet to control thecontacts so as to place coded current on-a-track circuits" In this'backwardand forward-motion of the-camson the pushers, a considerableamount of" friction may result unless the rubbing parts be properlylubricated, Furthermore, as referred to above, due to the fact thatthere is an oscillatory motion rather than a continuous rotatory'motioninvolved in the operation, any oil film on the high parts of-theoperating cams tends to'be quickly wiped off and become dry unlessconstantly renewed; Accordingly, the structure considered inthefollowing description discloses a wholly satisfactory means foreffecting this lubrication" and with a minimum of effort involvedf Theoiling system in=question includes an oil cup designated as a whole as00; This, as shown to best advantage in Fig. -5, comprises an elongatedmemberof square cross-section as at 4!, and a reduced cylindricalsection42, threaded at its end, as at 43, and passingthrough an opening in thetop plate, to receive a clamping nut 44 whereby to securely hold theoilcup clamped to the top plate by means of the nut 44, and the shoulder45, formed by the square and cylindrical portions. Nut 44 extends beyondthe end of the threaded portion 43 to receive a filling nipple46, whichseats in a seat 41 in the end of portion 42, and carries a suitablecover, as 48, hinged'as at 49, and spring-pressed (not shown)intoposition in the usual manner.

The oil cup 0C is held against turning in the top plate by a blockingmember having one squared end having its outer edge bearing against theflat face of a downwardly projecting lug H on the inner face of the topplate. The

blocking member has a fiat faced vertical leg 12 which bears against oneof the. square sides I2 of the oil cup and is held in position by a loopmember 13 encircling the cylindrical portion 42 of the cup, and clampedbetween the top plate and the shoulder 45 of the oil cup. In this mannerthe oil cup is positively held against any unintended turning motion andthus is obviated all danger of twisting the wicks or pulling them out ofplace. M 1

2 This, oil cup has a central bore 5110f relatively large diameterextending from its upper end to within a short distance of its lowerend, at which point it is very much reduced as at 51 to communicate witha reduced branch 52 at right angles thereto, opening at one side ofportion 4i.

The-portion of oil cup 4| at the outer end of .bore 52 has a cut-outpart 42 which can be clamped in place by a screw 43 and thereby clampthree oiling wicks 53, 62 and 63 in place on the member. The screw 43passes through the cut-out portion 42 and into portion 4|, and alsothrough the three wicks whereby toclamp them securely "in'pla'ce againstthe outlet bore" 521 so their upper edges;

thatjoiitlet-bore 52 opens' ontothe wicks and t These wicks are employedfor'conductingoil from the 'oil cup to'the rubbing surfaces'oi theoperating -cams;- indicated finftheurawin'g;

the'wicks are m'a'depf fine fabric and are 'rela tively broad andrelatively thin. The 'wicks are substantially twice aswide as thewidthof a cohtact finger, as; for e xalmple; contact finge'rf30,

and hence are folded over on themselves just beyond where they areclampedfby'screwi43 "Thus;

each wick i'sjust slightly narrower 'thtrhthgtitidthI of the contactfingers and of double thickness,"

Each wick, as53,-for example-in Figulflie's along the inner face'-ofdt's; contact fingerj as '30, and then-"passes from the fi'ngeralong'a supporting angle bracket, as 54,-to' have its end, as 55,positioned at "the-junction angle'o'fthe cam, as l1,-

and thepusher, as 20-. The' wick' is thin and very I flexible, and inorder to hold its end in the proper position, for bearing againstthe'rubbing surface of its cam and furnish-an adequate supply of foil tothis surface 'at all'time's'it is' held irr placeby an angle clamp} as5B,'-having-doubleears, only one ofeach pair, as 51 and58' for each end,is

clearly shown in thedrawing. This-angle-clamp is placed over:- thewick-whereby to position the wick betweenit and the bracket 5 afterwhich the ears-are" bentioverand pressddown-firmly in place to 7 holdthe entire assembly in placeas shown, for example, in Fig.3.

It can be noted from Fig. 4, that thesame-rivet,

as-60,which holds the brackets for connecting the pusher to the'contactilngenisalso employed for holding the anglebracket'54-andclamp'56 in place withi the'wick' 53 therebetwee'n withthe 'wi'ck passed through by this same rivet;

In Fi 1, it can seen h V downwardly to the contact fln' ger' 29 wherebracket 56 has its cars 58 and 51 bent around the wick to hold itagainst the contactfinger 29 and extending bracket 54 respectively.---Since the con tact finger 29 is' slightly wider than bracket 54,

the ears 58 in extending over -it' appear tb be slightly wider than theears -5'l. "v The bracket-515 is held in place-by rivetflio as abovementioned and thus has bent portions to conform with; the

shape of the finger- 29 andbracket' '54 as seen in Fig.3, andthese-bends are represented in l -lg; 1 I by the solid iverticallines-immediately "adjacent l w the wick 62 extends the rivet 60 on itsopposite sides. :.A;lso,;thefcamss are not all located on the same"horizontal plane sothat it is necessary for :thewicks: to be: slanted,-

so to speak, to: the proper level as indicated in Fig. slight bendsinthewicks: as shown 1-, thus making inFigfi;

The contact fingers are carriedby the. top plate by means of blocks ofinsulating material in-which as 64, at each end ofthe blochionly one endbe.-

ing shown in the drawing) passing-through slots '65 in the block: Inthis manner, the block carrying the contactfingers: can beadjustedimposi tion with respect to the topplate: and accordingly withrespect to: the-operating cam whereby. to-

place the. pushers in thiproper position for the desired operatingcharacteristics. The contact finger 2-2 is carried in a similar block66, mounted on the top plate and adjustable as described above.

The shaft 5 has an oil groove 6'! formed therein along its lengthwhereby to permit any excess of oil supplied by the wicks to the camsand runnin downwardly to follow the lower face of the cams and ontoshaft 5 to enter the oil groove 6'! and thereby pass to the lower stepbearing and lubricate the same. Should there be an excess of oil for thelower bearing, it can be readily removed by draining it off through anopening closed by aplug member 69.

From the above description of one form which this invention can assume,it is clear that oil from the oil cup passes through the reduced boresto the relatively fine wicks, and then along the wicks to constantlylubricate the rubbing faces of the operating cams. There is a relativelysmall supply of oil to the cams due to the small size of the oil outletchannel and to the fine wicks employed. With a relatively small oil cup,sufiicient oil can be held therein to suflice for lubricating theoscillator satisfactorily for about one year withoutrefilling.

As disclosed more fully in the application above referred to, the camsfor operating the contacts oscillate at various rates, and at times, atvarious amplitudes. The cam H, which operates the two pushers for thecoding circuit, swings sufiiciently in each direction to move thepushers from the low part of the cam out and onto the high part, but notoff of the high part in that same direction.

The cam I6, however, which operates the contact for controlling theelectro-magnet, may at times swing sufficiently far to cause the pusherto move from the low part of the cam out and onto the high part, andthen off of the high part and onto the low part, while the cam continuesin the same direction. With this type of operation, it can be readilyunderstood that oiling of the rubbing parts is absolutely essential,since without it, undue wear would occur in a relatively short time, andthe operation of the device would be at least impaired, as regardssmoothness of operation and accuracy of timing, and might be evencompletely interrupted.

The oiling system here disclosed, furnishes a ready means requiring verylittle maintenance and involving no danger of disturbing the adjustmentof the oscillator, for oiling oscillators of the type with which thisinvention is concerned.

The above rather specific description of one form of the invention isgiven solely by way of example, and is not intended, in any mannerwhatsoever, in a limiting sense. It is to be understood that variousmodifications, adaptations and alterati ons beIappl-iedfrom time totime, tome-etthefrequi'rements" of practicewithouhin any mam. ner,departing the spirit. or scope of the vention, exceptas'may be limitedby the appended claims; P 1 5 Having described one. form of my:invention, I now-claimL i:

I; .In combination with an oscillating coder having a casing-enclosing-a' shaft, meansfor oscillatingthe shafti-a cam fixed to theshaft, a. contact. finger adjacent the cam, a pusher on the fingerandioperative rubbing.- association ,withthe. cam; an' oiling systemincluding an elongated oil cup within the'cas'ing and having oneendaccese sible from outside of the; casing, a relatively large.longitudinal reservoir in the cup and terminatmg at said one end of thecup, a relatively restricted lateral bore connecting the reservoir witha lateral.

face. of the cup'ga. two-ended'wick; means, for tie-' tachably clampingone end of the: wick againstthe open end of the lateral bore, and meansforholid ing the other end of the wick in engagement with the rubbingsurface of the cam and including a rigid angle bracket fastened to thecontact finger, a rigid clip bracket removably fastenable to the anglebracket, the Wick being held between these two brackets and having itsrubbing end projecting only slightly beyond the rigid, brackets.

2. In combination with an oscillating coder having a casing enclosing ashaft, means for oscillating the shaft, a plurality of cams fixed to theshaft, a contact finger adjacent each of the cams, a pusher on eachfinger and in operative rubbing association with its cam; an oilingsystem including an elongated oil cup within the casing and having oneend accessible from outside of the casing, a relativeuy largelongitudinal reservoir in the cup and terminating at said one end of thecup, a relatively restricted lateral bore connecting the reservoir witha lateral face of the cup, a two: ended wick for each pusher, means fordetachably clamping one end of each of the wicks against the open end ofthe lateral bore, and means for holding the other end of each wick inengagement with the rubbing surface of its cam and including a rigidangle bracket fastened to the contact finger, a rigid clip bracketremovably fastenable to the angle bracket, the wick being held betweenthese two brackets and having its rubbing end projecting only slightlybeyond the rigid brackets.

3. In combination with an oscillating coder having a casing enclosing avertical shaft, means for oscillating the shaft, a cam fixed to theshaft, a contact finger adjacent the cam, and a pusher on the finger andin operative rubbing association with the cam; an oiling systemincluding an oil cup having an oil reservoir and positioned within thecasing and accessible for filling from the outside of the casing, a twoended oiling wick oommunicating at one end with the reservoir, meanspositioning the other end of wick against the rubbing surface of thecam, a lower step bearing for the shaft, and a longitudinal groove inthe shaft extending from below the cam to the bearing for conducting anyexcess oil that flows from the cam over-the extent of the shaft to saidlower bearing.

4. In combination with an oscillating coder having a casing enclosing ashaft, means for oscillating the shaft, a cam fixed to the shaft, acontact finger adjacent the cam, and a pusher on the finger and inoperative rubbing association with the cam; an oiling system includingan oil cup having an oil reservoir and positioned within the casing andaccessible for filling from the outside of the casing, a two endedoiling wick communieating at one end-withthe reservoir, andmeanspositioning. the other end of the; wick against -the rubbing surface ofthe cam, the'oil-cuphaving a fiat face, terminating in a shoulder,withinj'the;

casing, and a cylindrical portion extending through the casing, arigidblocking member with a portion encircling the cylindrical portion; meansoutside. of the casing and'on-the:Cy1indrica1'p0r tion for clampingthe,encirclingportionrbetween the casing and the shoulder, a flatportion on theblocking member lying against the flat face of the oilcup, at flat faced boss on the inner partof the casing,and a flat endportion of the blocking member bearing againstthe boss,.whereby the:blocking member prevents accidental turning of the oil cup, in thecasing.

5. In a coder having a vertical shaft enclosed in a casing, meansforrotating the shaft a limited amount in oppositewdirections alternately,aplurality of'cams fixed to the shaft, a contact finger 9.0

adjacent each of the cams andbiased towards its 1 with an oscillatorymotion, an oilreservoir positioned within the casing and made accessiblefor filling with oil from the outside of the casing, a plurality'offabric wicks, one foreach cam, extending from the base of said reservoirto their respective cams, means associated with each cam for holding itsrespective wick in close rubbing contact :with the surface of the cam,and means including asingle oil duct of relatively small di-' ameter forfeeding oil from said reservoir to all .i of said wicks at thesame pointof attachment to said reservoir, whereby each wick of said pluralitysupplies substantially the same amount of oilto its respective camthroughout the same period of time. g

' RALPH W. 'HEWES.

